State Unemployment Rate Falls to 2.8 Percent

ST PAUL – Minnesota’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 2.8 percent in September, according to data released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

That is the lowest state unemployment rate since May 1999 and only three tenths of a point above the all-time low of 2.5 percent in both January and February 1999. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in September 2018.

Over the past year, the state has added 37,339 jobs, a 1.3 percent growth rate. U.S. jobs are up 1.9 percent in the past year.

“While job declines are disappointing, they are to some extent a consequence of earlier economic strength,” said DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy. “This summer we saw large job gains, particularly in leisure and hospitality. These industries tend to eliminate some of those jobs at the end of the busy summer travel season.”

Trade, transportation and utilities led all sectors in September with a gain of 1,200 jobs, followed by government (up 1,100 jobs), financial activities (up 900 jobs), construction (up 300 jobs), and information and professional and business services (each up 200 jobs).

All Metropolitan Statistical Areas registered unadjusted over-the-year growth. Mankato once again had the highest rate with 3.2 percent growth. Minneapolis-St. Paul had the second highest growth up 1.7 percent and St. Cloud came in third with a 1.6 percent growth rate. Duluth-Superior came in fourth with 0.8 percent growth and Rochester was last growing only 0.7 percent.

Follow the link to see the section of DEED’s website that catalogs alternative measures of unemployment.

DEED is the state’s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. For more details about the agency and its services, visit DEED website or follow DEED on Twitter.

Seasonally adjusted

Not seasonally adjusted

Unemployment Rate

September 2018

August 2018

September 2018

September 2017

Minnesota

2.8

2.9

2.2

2.9

U.S.

3.7

3.9

3.6

4.1

Employment

September 2018

August 2018

Sep. ‘17 – Sep. ‘18 Level Change

Sep. ‘17- Sep. ‘18 % Change

Minnesota

2,972,800

2,974,200

37,339

1.3

U.S.

149,500,000

149,366,000

2,777,000

1.9

Over The Year Employment Growth By Industry Sector (NSA)

MN OTY Job Change

MN OTY Growth Rate (%)

US OTY Growth Rate (%)

Total Non-Farm Employment

37,339

1.3

1.9

Total Private

32,107

1.3

2.2

Logging and Mining

-114

-1.7

4.4

Construction

5,514

4.2

5.0

Manufacturing

5,761

1.8

2.3

Trade, Transport. and Utilities

9,251

1.7

1.5

Information

-63

-0.1

2.0

Financial Activities

1,888

1.0

1.5

Prof. and Business Services

3,845

1.0

1.6

Ed. and Health Services

1,542

0.3

2.3

Leisure and Hospitality

5,692

2.0

2.8

Other Services

-1,209

-1.0

1.8

Government

5,232

1.2

0.4

Metropolitan Statistical Area

OTY Employment Change (#, NSA)

OTY Employment Change (%, NSA)

Minneapolis-St. Paul MN-WI MSA

33,342

1.7

Duluth-Superior MN-WI MSA

1,133

0.8

Rochester MSA

797

0.7

St. Cloud MSA

1,725

1.6

Mankato MSA

1,858

3.2

Upon request, this information can be made available in alternate formats for people with disabilities by contacting the DEED Communications Office at 651-259-7161.
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